Gas washer



0. E. FENN GAS WASHER Jan. 18, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 50, 1945 0. E- FENN GAS WASHER Jan. 18, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1945 INVEN. 01:1 562222 Patented Jan. 18, 1949 UN: o

Quin- E. Reign; :ssignor to Peters- Dalton inc M chigan Pei e Mi e a a r whead Application August 30, 1945, Serial No. 613,559

J 9 re ate) This invention. relates to improvements in liquid contact gas washers.

Anaobject :is to provide aliquid ccntact; gas washer of .the horizontal ,type and whichmaygbe disposed beneath the 001 ,orsuspended from the ceiling of a building whereby space may, be economized and amore convenient hookup: obtained with air ducts-leading {from different mas chines and from manufacturing operationsin industnialiplantsr Obviously the washer may ,be

supported: upon the floor in the usual manner if suchis desired.

Another object is to provide an air qr 3% washer of the character described which is of simpl constru tion and emp o s a m m amount of apparatus to accomplish a satisfactory washing of the air. More particularly oh- ;ject is to provide a washer of the .character set ;forth wherein the ;.air to be washedis caused ;:to

travel generally in .a horiz o ntal direction over a to. throw the heavy foreign particles frontthe ain stream vinto the liquid and the air is then directed upwardly to create a swirling v nass of liquid and air rotating about a horizontal axis which extends transversely of and above the liquid rnass and wherein the finer particles. of

foreign material are wetted and such wettedj forveign' particles are thereafter thrown into the liquid mass as the air stream is directed-down wardly.

Tithe swirl of liquid and air wherein the particles of foreign material carried by the air are wetted may :be creased by the air stream picking up liquid from a selected portion of the liquid rnass'as the air travels thereoverlat a relatively .highyelocity or the air may pickup liquidfrom a liquid [curtain through which the airis passed or liquid may .be sprayed into theairstrearn.

A meritorious feature resides in the provision oi a casing having an air inlet at one :end and an air outlet at the opposite end and defining a generallyhorizontal air passageway whichcasing is provided linteriorly with a plurality of stran s- V ofthacasing. ,Thesehaifles are staggeredsothat th tairtstream in passing through rthe'casing .is ,defiected-togpursuea. sinuous generally horizontal path. In other "words the .airstream is successively directed upwardly and thenwdownwardly .asit flows-horizontallythrough the casing. 'i hes'e baffies fnrtherrserve. .as moisture ,eliminators: to remove entrainedmoisture from theairstream. Rr ferabIy .certa-in of thewhafiles dependrlfrom the ceiling ;of the passageway and terminate .at the bottom snacedabove lthelevel .ofitheeliquid andxalternate baffles extend upwardly zfrom.below thezkiql id level :to a point thereabove and overlap \the downwardly extending. baflles. The baffles W fl12h3BXtlfld upwardly from below the liquid level preferahly; 'alsoxdefine openings -.below.' the liquid level which openingsypermitnithefilow of liquid ever; thegrfloor, DfI-t'he passageway under eath the .bafilesgso that the il iquid -,co llected for;- eign particles may ;be ,carried to lone; end of wthe liquid sump the "bottom of V the casing. a

In ,Qne mc erredrembodiment (the .tcpwall of th casineslqnes ati-a gradual incli edownwardly towardtthes air inlet end of @the'casing andjthere risia in e rbafile whi h extends -.d0wnwardly :from this top walLtQWMdthfiliquid level, and'which :haffle i :hent inward y alone v t slower m rgin t ward the ai outlet end :01 i the casing. Means i pro ided tor del ve inewater onto ,the ton-wa l c th as n t .flowlth reover and a soever the c te ,face Q the inlet .bafl to drop therefrom ac o s the-a inl t i to the ,casin 'andqintoathe in aid-sumo. A floor ril xt nds over-thatch w l o t eflasin above thesheet of liqMdfiowing thereover and air enters throughthis 3111 to flew dawnward r t w rd the liquid same .to enter 1 ss hei l -inte. he casing. Means is amended to maintain a. determined ,letelqpr liq-uid 1 4mm h ifl oro hei as nev Y r ge ra ly thee nst ct on is such lthat liquid e ,i d lth eush he ai inl i t a 'mrticn c t casi adia en her to which .con titutes rt fie le-si nm ed :bafile spa ed. anar len thwise Qt embiects. -.advantages. andnmeritoriouslfea- Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through amodified form of washer embodying the invention and particularly adapted for use in conjunction v with a paint spray booth. I I Figure 4 is a vertical sectional-view through second modified form of the washer.

Liquid contact gas washers of the general char- 1 acter to which this invention relates are comv monly termed air washers. They are used in in'-" dustry to remove dust rparticles which arise as a result of grinding orother dust producing operations and to remove paint particles which arise as a result of paint spraying operations. The air that is fouled by the dust, paint or other foreign particles is collected and caused to pass through the liquid contact washer. Theobject is to wet the foreign particles carried by the air stream so as to cause them to leave theair stream and to settle in a liquid sump wherein they may be collected and from which they may be removed. The washer is so constructed that entrained moisture is removed from the air stream so that the cleaned air will not be unduly heavy with moisture. The cleaned air may be discharged into the building from which it is taken or it may be discharged exteriorly thereof depending upon the demands. i

A common type of construction heretofore in use has been an upright casing having an air inlet at the bottom and an air outlet at the top. By one means or another a liquid spray or shower was created within a portion of the casing and the air was passed upwardly therethrough for washing and thereafter was passed over moisture eliminators for removal of moisture and the discharge of clean air from the ;outlet of the easing. Washers of this type consumed considerable floor space. A feature of the instant invention is to provide an air washer wherein the air flows in.

a generally horizontal direction therethrough and the casing may be suspended from the ceiling or belowthe floor of a building. Such a construction is economicalof floor space and is adaptable for convenient association with various dust producing devices.

The casing of the instant air washer may be of a generally rectangular shape in transverse cross sectional vertical area. In Figure 1a casing is shown as having a floor iO. This floorslopes downwardly toward an end portion l2 of the casing wherein foul material which falls into the liquid which covers the floor of the casing may be collected. The liquid level is indicated as 14.

4 portion l2 at one end of the casing is separated from the main portion thereof by an intermediate wall 21, This wall 21 extends below the water level and the makeup conduit 22 delivers fresh water into the main portion of the casing. This intermediate baflle wall 21 serves to assist in maintaining the foul particles within the end portion l'2 offth'e-sump once they are collected thereinand in preventing their recirculation back into the main portion of the sump of the casing.

' A plurality of battles are arranged within the interior of the casing. These baflies extend trans- The ceiling of the casing'is indicated as [6 and versely across the casing and are spaced apart lengthwise thereof. The bafiles are staggered and 5 as'here shown alternate baflles extend downwardly from the ceiling toward the liquid level and eupwardly from below the liquid level toward the ceiling. The upwardly extending baflles terminate spaced above the liquid level and spaced below the ceiling. The downwardly extending baflles terminate spaced abovethe liquid level. The plurality of baflles define an air passageway which is of a generally horizontal character but wherein the air is first directed upward and then downwardly or along a sinuous generally horizontal path.

In the construction shownthere is a wall portion 28 which may be termed the inlet bafile which extends downwardly from adjacent to the air inlet toward the liquid level and is then curved inwardly above the liquid level toward the outlet end of the casing. The curved lower portion of this baiiie is spaced a relatively small dis- .tance above the liquid level defining the minimum transverse cross sectional area of the air passageway through the casing. An intermediate baffie 30 also extends transversely-across the casing between the two side Walls, as does the baflle 28. This bafiie 30 extends upwardly as shown from below the liquid level but from a point spaced above the floor In of the casing. The upper margin of this baffie is curved toward the bafile 28 as shown.

Between these two baffles 28 and 30 there is formed what may be termed a washing chamber. A plate 32 slopes from the upright portion of the baffle 28 to the inner margin of its curved lower portion bridging the concavity so that water will not collect therein. One or more moisture elimspace between the bafiles 28 and 30 and over the top of bafiie 30 and is then directed downwardly by baflle 34 before it enters the outlet 20 upon which a suction may be imposed.

' In this construction of Figure 1 there is provideda flow plate 36 which extends from an up right portion 38 submerged below the air inlet at a'slight inclination upwardly and rearwardly to a point intermediate the bafiles 28 and 30 where it terminates in a downwardly projecting portion 40. Due to the slight inclination of this plate liquid stands on top of the plate at a relatively shallow depth. The liquid level upon the plate together with'the curved portion of baflle 28 defines a restriction through which the air flows at relatively high velocity as for example 4000 feet a minute. The air flowing through this restricted inlet picks up water from the flow plate 3i:- andicariziesit intorztherwashing ispace: between: thesrbaflles Z-Bwand =-..whereit: is swirled-about; The -ma-jumportiom .or the: water fiowsw: downwardlnin-to the .sump'wcarrying with its the wetted I forelgmparticlesr washed from the air; Thewater whichstrikesthe wall 01' baffie30 flows down. such baiflew'andf: through the space betweenuthe-arbaifie Wandutha upright wall 40: and intothexsurnp Without depositing the: foul: material picked lup thereby; upon. the :flowaplatefifi: from which .water isanicked'up by the aircstream toi-maintain'lthe liquidrswirl;

portion-0t. the water iSi carried: over thetop'e ofixbaifle; 3 0- and-thrown against the; battle 34- frion'r which; it is knocked down into the diqui'drsumu therebelow. This water andtheparticles ofrfor eign matenialawetted-r thereby can fiowilunderneath the: bafiie'BBrandr-the:walls.do; 33fiiand 21lt into-'theendportionxl2ioiatheccasing;A i

- Figurez .2.illustrates the -:samegeneral type; of

shown: in Figm'e o1: andrhereinabove described. The floor "hot the casingatshowm in" Figure 2: is of:avhopper like:construction; Aifan l2= driven! by an. electric motor 44-" is illustrated todraw air? through the. casing. The: overflow Z-tw-h-ich: maintains the water" level; is illustrate'cl as difiierentlyy positioned from? what; it2is:in' Ei'g'-' ure-l but the resulta is the: same. Anfl endless: sludge conveyor 46- is also illustrated. This-leads firom arcollector basinAS: which: collector ba'sin isrdisposed at thelow point ofi'the -lhopper. This: sludge conveyorf and: hopper. structure are con"- ventionalz In thiswconstructiomof Figure 2 the waterrlevelztogether with thercurved lower p'or tiOl'lqOfLthB bafliei-28: defines the restri'cted iair intakeiinto the casing. Through it the air tra'v'el's at? a'-,velocity-to pick up liquid which stands oh} I tom of" the flowsheet 36:. The operation o'f the" structure'ofiiFigunev is:- of the same character'as hasbeena describedzzin::conuection witli the construction: of Figure '1 except a fora the additiomof the; sludgerconveyorh r 4 Figures-3- illustrates a. modified formwicon struction wherein theet'ank: floor 1 0 slopes do wmwardly toward one end at which :there afidrain outletifirashas been. describedfabove"; Tha -oven flow is indicated as and: maintains the water level Mi; Theair -outletzfl is-at:one end a'n'd jtheair: inlet intowthe; washing chamber portion of thercasing iszat tllz'ODPOSi-tf en d a's illustrated: The; ceiling -I It of: the casing. slop'esrdownward-ly from adjacent to'the; ainoutlet .eud 'toward the aiminlet end:v Ilhe inlet-rbaflle 28iextends dowm WSKd-M-tOWaiIIG the water level and isibent along portion and there is a plate 32 which bridges ZGIOSSw-thfi concavity: formedzby' the curvedportion --.ofi;l this. baflle: as hasrbeen: hereinab'overde scribed: i

There is an. intermediate upwardly; extending; b afli Mia-which. curves along.- its upper: margin; towardgthebafiie 28 to define. between 'athese two; li'afiies a washing. space within whichaliquidswi'rlis created. .There are then two othenbafilesn namely a. downwardly-projecting bafiie. 34. and 0 ani upwardlyf projecting baffie' 35 which. bafiles actn'ot'onlj as water eli'm'inators but alsoact Lto directthefiowofair soasto assist in removal ofiforeign wette'd particle's.- Thereflis a fiswpate 361 having a depending upright portion "40 or the charaeter hereinabove described:

T ms' particular apparatus 'isespecially suitable ior-zuse in:conjunction' with a paint spray-booth an'drthe makeupwvater is delivered through-a ccn I grill: Silsuperimiotises inzispacedrelations'hip the i ceiling. i6: of: the: casing permittingthe water toflow thereunder. -v The air enters through this floor ogrilleand'iparticularly through a portion-'52 thereof to pass-downwardly into the casingtowardithe liquidxin the-sump. As the air is drawn intosthe'inlet betweehxthe flow plate 35" and the CUIVGd'aIOWBI'TDOItiOH of the baffle 38' it picks up water-from. thewater'curtain falling acrossthe inlet andaz'carriesitinto the washing space betweenathezbaffie 2 8-and the bafile 36-.

I In this:constructionvtheinlet'isnot so' restric'ted in cross sectional area as are the inlets in the constructioniof Fighres-l and 2 due' to the fact that' in this" construction the air travels through a vertical water curtain from which it can pick up waterwhile in the construction oi'Figures l and 2 it must pick up the-Water from the sur-face-of thetsheet extendingover the flow plate. Also in this construction a considerable'quantity of the paintvparticles are, deposited directly upon theisheetrofwater flowing=over the-upper surface of the' topzwall'of the casing and over the front face 'of thebaffle'lil"; Furthermore this. upper sur face 'of the topwall and the front face ofithe bafiie 2181 are: keptzclean Jay the water flowing: there-oven Otherwise'jthis.construction is similar to'fthose which have-heretofore been described. The top wallr'ofl the casingimay be provided with'rem'o v' able-panels: such" as the one shown at 51" which may'beiwithd-rawn for cleaning vthe baffiesi The hailiesitthemselves'may beremovabl'e for clean ingl'in' this: as Well-as in =the other structures de'-- scribed. 7

In: Figures. 4 the COTIStILlCtiOII' resembles that of Figure-3 ins'that' the casing is of a generally" similar character provided with similarly iden tifi'e'd i constructional 1 featuresexcept that the floor 'grill -is'of limited size and the water is not flowedover'tlie top wall of the casing but-merely r baflie 'ZB: and showers water thereupon-.as sliown This flow-pipe is covered by an enclosureotwh over thefront face of the bafile ZB being 'delivere 1 t'o flow :thereo'ver from a flow pipe' 5Q which ex tends -lengthwise along the top margin o'f the ch enclosuremdefines an outlet through which' the" water flowsdown over the front'face of the bane ah'dfi falls as i a vertical curtaintherefrom into v ther-liquidsump: The operation of 'thisconstruc its lowemma-rgin inwardly 4 toward thei outlefi end (8113542; intozaacollecton trough; 4611mm .wm n a tionl of Figure 4' isthe'sarne as has been above describedfexcept -th'at in addition to the water suppliediito" the front face of the baffle ZS ther'e' isprovided a shower pipe'58 which is adapted-to direct 'a spray: of water upwardly againstthe" bafil 3'6 and-into theseace between suchbaflle and the ba'fiie 28l There is an adjustable plate-"60 which may be sli'cla-bly adjusted over the plate- 32 to vary! thef extent" of the air "inlet between such plate;filliandthe baftle'30;

'What I claim' is 1-2 A' gas washer comprising ajcasing defining av generally horizontally extending air passageway havi'ri g an"-air-inlet'at' one end and an air outlet at the opposit end} thelower' portion of the cas mg consntunng a liquidcontaining sump, a baffle extending-downwardly from the top wall of the casiii'g adjacent to the-inlet and terminating at the bottom spaced above the liquid level in' the sumt$-saicl 'top wall ofthe"casing sloping down- Wdl'dfi t' dwa'ird the ail inltiiilio 'thecasiilg', means for delivering liquid to flow downwardly over the top wall of the casing and over the front face of said inlet baille to fall as a curtain across the air inlet into the casing, a floor grill extending spaced above the top wall of the casing permitting the flow of liquid over said top wall below said grill, means for causing air to enter the casing and flow therethrough and air flow deflecting bailles disposed transversely within the casing abovethe liquid level therein, said inlet bailie being bent along its lower margin toward the casing outlet, a baffie-extending upwardly from below the liquid level and spaced above the fioor of the casing and spaced rearwardly of said inlet baflle to a height above the lower margin of the inlet baflle and curved forwardly along its top margin toward said inlet baille forming a washing chamber between said bafiles, andmeans for maintaininga liquid level within said casing above the lower margin of said upwardly extending baille and below the lower margin of said inlet baflle.

2. A gas washer comprising a casing defining a generally horizontally extending air passageway having an air inlet at one end and an air outletat the opposite end, the lower portion of the casing constituting a liquid containing sump, a bafile extending downwardly from the top wall of the casing adjacent to the inlet and terminating at the bottom spaced above the liquid level in the sump, said top wall of the casing sloping downwardly toward the air inlet into the casing, means for delivering liquid to flow downwardly over the top wall of the casing and over the front face of said inlet bafile to fall as a curtain across the air inlet into the casing, a floor grill extending spaced above the top wall of the casing permitting the flow of liquid over said top wall below said grill, means for causing air to enter the casing and flow therethrough and air flow deflecting, baflles disposed transversely within the casing above the liquid level therein, said inlet baflle being bent along its lower margin toward, the casing outlet, a bailie extending upwardly from below the liquid level and spaced above the floor of the casing and spaced rearwardly of said inlet baifie'to a height above the lower margin of the inlet baille and curved forwardly along its top margin toward said inlet baflle forming a washing chamber between said bafiles, and means for maintaining a liquid level within said casing above the lower margin of said upwardly extending baflle and below the lower margin of said inlet baflle, and a flow plate extending from below the liquid level in the sump and below the inlet baille upwardly and rearwardly at a slight-incline toward said upwardly extending baffle and terminating spaced between said baflles above the liquid level in the sump.

' 3. A gas washer apparatus comprising, in combination, a casing definin a generally horizon-.

tally extending air passageway having an air inlet, into one end thereof and an air outlet at the other end thereof and provided with an inclined ceiling sloping downwardly toward, the airinlet end thereof and an inclined bottom, a horizontal floor grill extending over said inclined ceiling, means for maintaining a liquid sump over the inclined bottom of the casing at a predetermined liquid level in the casing, means providing a liquid drain outlet in the lowermost part of said bottom,

for removing the sump liquid, from the casing, two sets of bailles extending transversely across the casin and being spacedapart lengthwise thereof, one set of baffles extending downwardly from the ceiling of the casing and terminating spaced above saidliquid level, the other setof,

thereof terminating in spaced relation to the celling and bottom of the casing respectively, said sets of ballles forming a generallyv horizontal sinuous air passageway above said liquid passageway and a liquid passageway over the inclined bottom of the casing under the second set 'ofbafiles, the first bafile of said sets of bafiles extend ing downwardlyirom lower edge of the inclined ceiling and having the lower margin thereof curved inwardly toward the next succeeding ballle' and in spaced relation to said liquid level to define the minimum cross sectional opening in said sinuous air passageway, said next succeeding baflle having its top margin curved toward said first baiile at a height spaced above the lowercurved margin thereof and forming in combination therewith a washing chamber there-between, a liquid fiow plate under the lower curved margin of said first baflle extendin upwardly and in wardly at a slight incline from below said liquid level and. terminating above said liquid 'levl spaced from said first and said next succeeding baflles, means'for delivering liquid to the upper end of said ceiling to flow down the upper surface thereof under said floor grill and over the front face of said first baille to fall as a curtain acrosssaid minimum opening of the air passageway-and means ior causing air toflow downwardly through said floor grill and to enter said air inlet of the casing and fiow'through said sinuous air passageway and out of said air outletat sucha speed that it picks up particles of said liquid curtain at said minimum'opening and carries the same therewith into said washing chamber where it is swirled about before separation from the air.

4. In a as washer, a horiz'ontalc'asing:having a gas inlet at one end and a gas outlet at the opposite end and provided with a top wallslopin'g" toward the inlet, means for maintaining adetermined liquid level within the casing, a fioo'rl'g rill extending over and spaced above the top wallj'aii inlet bafile projecting dow'nwardlyfrom the top wall and terminating spaced above the liquidlevel within the casing, means for causing the liquid to flow over the top wall and 'over said' inlet bailie and to fall as a curtain across the gas passageway between said bafile and the liquid level in the'casing, means for causing air to pass through-the grill and through the inlet and over the inlet baflle into the casing and to pass under neath the inlet baflle through the Water curtain falling thereacross and to travel through thecasing. 1

5. In an air washer, a floor grill, a horizontal casing disposed underneath the grill havin'g'an air inlet at one end and an air outlet at the'op-w posite end and provided with a top wall sloping toward the inlet, means for maintaininga ae termined liquid level within the casing, 'ai-"baille extending transversely across the casing andldeg pending from the top wall at the inlet and having its bottom margin curved toward the outletfabove', the liquid level in the casing, means for causing liquid to flow over the top wall toward theinlet; and down over the'inlet bafile into theecasing, means for causing air to pass through thegrill"; and through the inlet andover the inlet baille. and, to travel thereunder andthrou the casing; and a ba file extending transverselyacross the casing: and projecting upwardly, from :below' the-water; level, and having. itstop; marginz'curvedi toward the inlet bafiie spaced above the bottom margin thereof.

6. In an air washer, a casing having an air inlet and an air outlet and defining a horizontally extending air passageway therethrough between the inlet and the outlet, means for maintaining a determined water level within the casing, a sub stantially vertical inlet bafile depending from the top wall of the casing at the inlet and extending transversely across the casing, said baille having its bottom margin curved spaced above the water level toward the air outlet, a substantially vertical water deflecting bafile extending transversely across the casing and projecting upwardly from below the water level, said bafiie having its top margin curved toward the inlet baffle spaced above the curved bottom margin thereof forming a washing zone between the curved margins of the two bafiles, means for causing air to flow through the casing entering at the inlet and passing underneath the inlet baflle and carrying water upwardly over the water deflecting bafile to be directed thereby toward the inlet baffle setting up a water swirl between the curved margins of said 7. In an air washer, a casing having an air inlet and an air outlet and defining a horizontally extending air passageway therethrough between the inlet and the outlet, means for maintaining a determined water level within the casing, a substantially vertical inlet bafile depending from the top Wall of the casing at the inlet and extending transversely across the casing, said bafile having its bottom margin curved spaced above the water level toward the air outlet, a substantially vertical water deflecting baflle extending transversely across the casing and projecting upwardly from below the water level, said bafiie having its top margin curved toward the inlet bafile spaced above the curved bottom margin thereof forming a washing Zone between the curved margins of the two baffles, a flow plate extending transversely across the casing spaced below the curved margin of the inlet bafile and having a rear margin positioned between the edge of the curved bottom margin of the inlet bafile and the upwardly projecting water deflecting baffle above the water level, said flow plate sloping from said rear mar- 10 gin downwardly toward the inlet to a front margin spaced below the water level and disposed substantially in line with the vertical portion of the inlet baflle, said two margins of the flow-plate having vertical portions depending below the water level, and means for causing air to flow through the casing entering at the inlet and passing underneath the inlet baflle and carrying water upwardly over the water deflecting bafile to be directed thereby toward the inlet bafile setting up a water swirl between the curved portions of said baffles.

8. The invention as defined in claim numbered 6 characterized in that a flow plate is provided which extends transversely across the casing spaced below the curved bottom margin of the inlet bailie and projecting upwardly from its front margin disposed below the water level toward the outlet end of the casing and to a rear margin spaced above the water level and spaced forwardly of said water deflecting baffie.

9. The invention as defined in claim numbered 6 characterized in that means is provided for delivering water into the space between the inlet baffle and said upwardly projecting baffle to be picked up by the air stream flowing through the casing.

ORRIN E. FENN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 191,512 Bennett June 5,1877 283,025 Rowan Aug. 14, 1883 585,568 Greiwe June 29, 1897 716,380 Clawson Dec. 23, 1902 1,167,909 McDonald Jan. 11, 1916 1,918,531 Gentry July 18, 1933 2,227,465 Roche Jr. et a1 Jan. 7, 1941 2,316,491 Teichner Apr. 13, 1943 2,373,330 Nulting Apr. 10', 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 58,659 Switzerland Jan. 29, 1912 

